Over the years, while yoga was largely considered a gentle exercise regimen for post-retirement folks in India, it powered on to unimaginable heights in Hollywood. Every hot bod from David Beckham to Kate Hudson to Ryan Gosling to Gisele Bundchen is a fan. Fortunately, our own glam set is now giving the discipline the boost it needs on local shores. Here’s looking at B-town’s best yoga role models and their practices…

Alia Bhatt

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Yoga features prominently in Alia’s fitness regimen and she is particularly fond of the handstand asana, which stimulates the endocrine system, and builds upper body strength by strengthening the arms, shoulder and upper body. It also improves bone health and increases core strength. Anti-gravity yoga is another fave, while she also swears by the back bend bridge asana, a stretching exercise which improves breathing and helps alleviate back pain. And don’t forget the perks of inner peace and relaxation; something our fierce achiever desperately needs!

Shilpa Shetty Kundra

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She embraced yoga some years ago when she developed cervical spondylitis. “It helps in the healing process. Cervical spondylitis is not curable but yoga has definitely helped in preventing it,” she vouches. Today yoga has become a way of life for her. “It has made me more disciplined and has made me calm because when I am doing yoga I am also meditating and concentrating,” she maintains. She adds that she didn’t take up yoga to look good. “I’ve never given a good figure too much importance. Fitness was my target and one of the things that helped me achieve it is yoga.”

Kareena Kapoor Khan

This stunner glows with good health. She believes performing yoga for two hours helps maintain her weight and gives an extra edge to her flexibility. Yoga has helped her challenge her genes and transform her body, she says, giving it credit for her perfect shape and toned body. Known to practice power yoga in combination with Surya Namaskar and Ashtanga yoga, she also swears by hot yoga, which is performed at a temperature of 105 degree F and room humidity of 40 %, which helps stretch your muscles.

Malaika Arora Khan

A firm practitioner of yoga, she loves its many benefits. “The best part about yoga is that you don't have to go to a gym for a workout. If you don't have enough time, then you can actually do the basic yoga in your house,” she declares. While her favourite asana is Dhanush Asana which is very good for the core, she also loves the breathing aspect of yoga. “It is the combination of mind, body, and soul. It is an alignment of your chakras. The benefits are there for all to see - in terms of posture or meditation. If you genuinely learn yoga and imbibe the goodness and the correct form for you, you will only benefit from it,” she vouches.

Bipasha Basu

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Extremely meticulous about her health and fitness regimen, Bipasha also swears by yoga. A keen practitioner of yoga, she starts her day with Surya Namaskar, performing 108 round of this unique yoga module. This, she believes, not only makes her fit and healthy but also stimulates the entire organ systems of the body. Revealing that she wants to learn more yoga from husband Karan Singh Grover, she adds, “People use their problems as an excuse, but you can get stronger each day through yoga.” She is living proof!

Kangana Ranaut

Well, while we're talking about good health and fitness how can we forget the queeen herself. Kangana Ranaut looks evergreen and fit all the time. Here's her secret to perfect beauty.